The Interior of the Church

The church is entered through double doors in the South wall. The first place of interest we see on the West wall (left hand side) is the Baptistry. The Baptistry is raised from the body of the church. The font, which came from St. Thomas and Emmanuel, Broad Street, Birmingham, has an oak cover which was given in the memory of the Reverend T. G. Faulkner, Vicar of St. Mary’s from 1915-1933. The old oak chest is 17th century and has been used, in past years as a vestment chest. The Baptistry was formed in 1962 as part of the Centenary interior reconstruction to the church. The area is dedicated to Reverend J. S. Miller, Vicar 1933-1957 and commemorated by a plaque on the West wall. The beautiful rose window above depicts Christ’s Ascension into Heaven. The whole window is made up of a circular or rose shape and two long stained glass windows. The window to the left shows the Shepherds, Mary and the Infant Jesus and the right hand window the Baptism of our Lord. These windows are in memory of Richard and Esther Burman. The Victorian cross fixed between the two long windows also depicts the Ascension with the wording “Ascend Unto My Father and Your Father and to My God and Your God”. The symbols of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are on each point of the cross.

Turning towards the North wall, the stained glass window given in memory of Richard and Ann Burman, shows Jesus and the calling of the Disciples. The left hand section shows Jesus, Simon Peter and Andrew. The right hand Philip and Nathanael under the fig tree.

On walking down the aisle between the two rows of pews we notice that the plain walls on the North and South help to accentuate the intricate pattern of the red and blue brickwork of the interior of the church. The windows in the North wall are plain leaded to allow as much daylight as possible into the church. The main door to the Vestries is also in the North wall just in front of the pulpit. The pulpit is of carved stone which is reached by ascending four shallow steps. The pulpit fall is of royal blue velvet decorated with a gold cross and lilies. On the opposite side is the Lectern of carved oak which is dedicated to the memory of Major Hadley. The pillars of the Sanctuary are composed of a mixture of Bath and Honiton stone and are carved at the start of the arch which leads to the Sanctuary. The roof of the main body of the church is gabled with black timber supports contrasting with the white plaster.

In the Sanctuary stands the Altar which is vested in a blue altar cloth with a gold cross, bunches of grapes and sheaves of corn. The Altar has only stood in this position since 1962 and was the most significant factor in the re-arrangement of the church during 1962. The two clergy stalls on each side of the Sanctuary were designed and made by Pancheri of Bromsgrove in 1964. The stalls are made from oak and are carved with fruits and leaves of the oak and maple trees. They were given in the memory of Charles Betts. The Servers Stalls are alongside the Vicar’s Stall. Notice also the carvings at the base of the arches each side of the Sanctuary. These are believed to be the work of apprentice stone masons.
On the North side of the Sanctuary is the organ which was built in 1908 by Nicholson & Company of Malvern. It comprises of a Great Organ, Swell Organ and Pedal Organ with pipes from 2 to 16 feet in length. It has 58 manual notes and 30 pedal notes. The organ case is in Pitch Pine. A doorto the right hand side also leads into the Vestries.

Beyond the Sanctuary is the old sanctuary prior to 1962 which is now dedicated to the Mynor family. Here the Altar is vested in gold. The Altar reredos is carved York stone executed in the Italian style. It has three panels; the centre depicts the Crucifixion and the side panels, the Lamb and Pelican. This ornamental screen was added to the church between 1862 and1875. On either side of the reredos are panels on which are inscribed the Creed, the Ten Commandments and the Lord’s Prayer which were a gift of W. H. Jackson. The four Archangels, Uriel, Gabriel, Michael and Raphael are portrayed in the four windows on the North and South sides. The East window above the Altar is one of the most beautiful Victorian windows to be found in the Birmingham Doicese. This window which depicts the Resurrection was given to the memory of Robert Mynor a surgeon whose home was at Weatheroak Hall (now Kings Norton Golf Club). Other members of the Mynor family have their memorials in the Archangel windows. The original East window is now located near the South West entrance.

Coming from the Sanctuary into the South aisle the window to the left depicts Mary with the Infant Jesus. Facing are two windows showing the Good Samaritan and the Washing of Our Lord’s feet. These two windows are in memory of James and Mans Johnstone and Elizabeth Deverill. Walking along the South aisle the first window on the left is depicting Our Lord at Gethsemene and is to the memory of W. H. Jackson. The War Memorial is made from oak with a carved centre panel showing the Crucifixion, the two side panels detailing names of the fallen in World War I. The stained glass window to the right of the memorial is very interesting as it was painted by a former Vicar’s daughter, Geraldine Morris. All of the faces portrayed depict local people of the time the kneeling figure was modelled by her father, the Reverend Ambrose Morris. The figure standing behind her father is Maynard Morris, her brother. Painted with great delicacy are also wild flowers, herbs, birds and animals. At the South West corner of the church is the book stall.
If we look around the church we will see that the Greek letters Alpha and Omega appear five times.

1. In the small lights in the East window.
2. On both sides of the Chancel Arch.
3. In one of the Archangel windows, St. Uriel.
4. On the memorial brass to the Rev. I. C. Yarranton, which is above the pulpit.
5. In the South East corner of the nave on the memorial plaque to the Rev, and Mrs. Mynor.

Alpha being the first letter in the Greek alphabet, The Beginning, and Omega the last, The End.

In 1934 electric lighting was installed in St. Mary’s which was a gift from Major and Mrs. Hadley. Prior to that date, paraffin lamps had been used. The current heating system, which are electrically heated panels under the pews were added in 1971.

Saint Mary’s Church has had many benefactors, the major being the Mynor family, others have been Esther and Richard Burman, the Field family, Major and Mrs. Hadley. Obviously, many other people have supported St. Mary’s in varying ways but unfortunately no accurate records have been maintained